New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-02
EyTFfyG THE PRESIDENT.

Saving cart thou in health, my brotherf"
he stabbed him under the fifth rib. That is a
condensed report of the proceedings Of the
PENNSYLVANIA Democratic Convention Nh.
Randall had his own way He praised the
President with great wealth Of words, but
significantly refused the Endorsement for re-
nomination, which Mr. Cleveland is securing
through the "pernicious activity" of his Office
holders from other State Conventions Of his
party. The Presidents tariff reduction plat
form is not only rejected, but it Is exposed to
public contempt by the adroit quotation OF
the platform on which President Cleveland
was elected and his own letter Of acceptance,
in which the dishonest evasion OF that plat
form was characterized thus So plain
statement of the Democratic faith and the
principles upon which the Democratic party
appeals to the suffrages Of the people needs no
supplement or explanation" IL it needed
mono then, when Mr. Cleveland himself was
a candidate, certainly it needs none now when
only State officers are 10 be elected The
obvious conclusion to which Mr.. Randall's
resolution points is that either the Presidents
attempt now to get approval of his tariff
policy from his party Is an impudent departure
from the pledges on which he was elected,
or else his declaration when he was candi-
date was insincere and was deliberately in
tended to deceive voters
The President will not easily escape from
this dilemma Mr. Randalrs blow under the
fifth rib has National importance, because
it virtually indicts the President either for
breach of faith or intentional deception. If
the platform Of 1884 was really so plain that
it needed no explanation, then the President
is now trying 10 coerce his party into de-
parture from the policy to which he and the
party then sClemnly pledged themselves. If
it was not, in fact, so plain and unequivOcal,
then the Presidents language in his letter
was an effort to delude voters, and to get
Office under false impressions. 1t boots moth
ing that the President can reply that the
Pennsylvania Democrats thus accuse him. and
refuse to recommend his denomination, in the
interest of Mr. Randall as a candidate. The
keen thrust at the Presidents apparent insin-
cerity or bad faith will have its force.
Mr.. Scott gracefully yields, accepts the
Craftsmanship of the Committee on Resolutions
reports the very platform against which he
had vainy struggled, and is graciously allowed
10 name the candidate who is to have the
empty honor of heading beaten ticket lie
is a good Democrat; that is, he docs not allow
his personal convictions TO disturb the har-
mony of his party in Pennsylvania. Possibly
he sincerely believes that the Administration
has administered the finances with ''apt abil-
ity,' as the convention resolved, and " has
strengthened the public credit and thereby
given us a period of great industrial and COM
morcial prosperity The failure of the largest
coal operator in Pennsylvania last week, pre-
coded by the failure OF an important iron
manufacturing firm, and followed by the fail
ure Of a noted coal firm at Boston, needs TO be
rcconciled with this dec laratiOn. There are
some business men who consider that period
of wild and uinous speculation is not one of
great prosperity, and that the imitation Of
currency which stimulates such speculation TO
the utmost was not wise administration oil
the finances.